Maps of Fate by Reid Lance Rosenthal

Author:Reid Lance Rosenthal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, historical romance, american history, reid lance rosenthal, threads west, maps of fate
Publisher: Reid Lance Rosenthal

Israel took a last look around the hovel that had been their only home for many years, and turned to Lucy, “Ready?”

Her hands tightened on his arm. The whites of her eyes were wide in the faint glow of the candle. Her voice was tremulous, “Oh Lordy…Yes.”

There was a faint howl of wind through the exposed rafter tails on the exterior of the shack, and the night was opaque beyond the solitary window. Israel turned to the door.

“Wait, Israel!”

“What? What is it?”

“Let me blow out the candle.”

Israel first felt incredulity at her worry over this detail, then he began to laugh. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Leave it burning, wife. We rarely snuff it out ’til about a few hours after dark. By the time that short piece of wax burns down it would be ’bout time to blow it out anyways. If we snuff it now, people’s might wonder if somethin’s wrong, and we don’t wanna do nothing out of the ordinary…”

“‘Cept become runaways,” Lucy said almost inaudibly, her lower lip trembling.

Israel pulled her to him and hugged her. “We are runaways where we stand in this dirty shack they let us use.” He pointed at the door, “Soon as we walk out that door and take one step, we be free men runnin’ for our lives.”

Israel pulled open the door a crack, then partially shut it, and turned back to her. “It’s startin’ to snow. Put on that gutta-percha. The good Lord is giving us perfect conditions.”

He helped her on with the rain poncho. “Now grab your luggage,” Israel grinned and pointed to the stick to which he had tied her canvas bag, “and that walkin’ stick. I figure we can make Thompson’s barn tonight. It’s a ways off from the main house, and sits in the creek bottom. We need to be moving up that creek ’fore daylight and hope it’s still snowin’!”

He looked Lucy up and down and then fixed his eyes on hers, “I feel like I’m fifteen again, wife. I want you to know one thing.”

“Yes, Israel?”

“I love you as much now, as I did then.” Israel opened the door and together, holding hands, they stepped out into the night.

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